Fri, 02 Sep 1994

Moro peace talks begin amid air of optimism

JAKARTA (JP): The second round of formal peace talks between the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) and the Philippine government began in high spirits here yesterday as both sides expressed confidence in the ultimate success of the current meetings.

"Today we carry the mandate of our president to bring this negotiation to a higher plane and a brighter horizon of peace, progress and prosperity for the southern Philippines," said Manuel T. Yan, head of the Philippine delegation.

MNLF chairman Nur Misuari also expressed his hope for a fruitful meeting when he said his delegation had the full mandate of the people in seeking a justifiable solution to the problems.

The positive atmosphere was further reflected by Indonesian Minister of Foreign Affairs Ali Alatas when he said that "we are proceeding in the right direction, we have identified all the key issues and the necessary momentum has been created."

The Filipino Moslems, or Moros, make up about eight percent of the 65 million population of the mostly Roman Catholic Philippines.

For the past three centuries the Moros have pursued a struggle for autonomy beginning with resistance towards Spanish colonial rule and continuing through the post-Philippine independence era, reaching its peak in the 1970's against the late president Ferdinand Marcos.

Only since the election of President Fidel Ramos in 1992 have negotiations for Moro autonomy produced concrete results.

The latest series of talks is being held under the auspices of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) with Indonesia as host and mediator.

In the breakthrough inaugural meeting in Jakarta last November, an Interim Ceasefire Agreement was reached between the two sides which succeeded in suspending armed conflict.

"Dialog and preventive diplomacy rather than arms and ammunitions have proven to be the most powerful weapons of resolving human conflicts," said OIC Secretary General Hamid Algabid during yesterday's opening statement which was read by his assistant Mohammad Mohsin.

Despite this success, Alatas still called on the goodwill and perseverance of both sides since "quick success is often elusive."

MILF

When queried about the kidnappings of Korean workers involving the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), a splinter group of the MNLF, in Cotabato, Mindanao, Misuari revealed that he had received a request from Manila to help resolve the current crisis.

Misuari said that his organization would do its utmost to resolve the matter and added that he was in contact with the MILF.

"The MNLF is ready to extend full cooperation in order to prevent this sensitive situation from erupting into full-scale war," he said.

Meanwhile, Yan considered the possibility of conducting similar negotiations with the MILF as Manila is doing now with the MNLF.

"After conducting talks with the MNLF we could also conduct talks with the MILF," he said.(mds)